In Canada and many Western countries, the second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day – a day to express gratitude for a mother’s love and hard work, and to strengthen and deepen family bonds. During my Indian military service days, I used to hear that days like Mothers’/Fathers’ Day were created as a strategy by greeting card companies to boost their business.

Two decades ago, after settling in Canada, my son came home from school with a handmade card for his mother. Giving it to her, he said, “I am proud of you for taking care of me!”

At that moment, I remembered — never in my life had I thanked my father or mother for raising me and helping me reach where I am today. I pondered why. We saw our parents’ struggles and efforts as their duty – or simply pretended not to notice. I had never heard or seen anyone expressing thanks to their parents.

Ten years ago, at our mother’s 80th birthday celebration, I said, “Had our mother received proper guidance, opportunities, and higher education during her time, she could have become a Collector!”

My younger brother added, “Not just a Collector – she could have become the Prime Minister of India.”

Our elder brother said, “With her wisdom, leadership, and skill, she nurtured our family – and it is because of her that we, her children, have reached where we are today.”

He added, “More than raising four mischievous sons, her true achievement lies in managing our four wives peacefully and helping raise our children together in unity.”

That day, all four of us sons expressed our love, respect, and gratitude to our mother.

I pray that each of you may also get such an opportunity.

Let us delve into the history of Mothers’ Day.  In 1868, Ann Jarvis formed a committee to establish Mother’s Friendship Day with the aim of reuniting families divided during the American Civil War. In its present form, Mother’s Day was started by her daughter, Anna Jarvis, after Ann Jarvis passed away on May 9, 1905, with the support of Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker.

Anna Jarvis initially worked to make Mother’s Day a national holiday in the United States and later aimed to make it an international observance. In 1910, the state government of West Virginia officially recognised it, and other states followed suit. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law declaring the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.

नास्ति मातृसमा छाया नास्ति मातृसमा गतिः।
नास्ति मातृसमं त्राणं नास्ति मातृसमा प्रपा।।

There is no shade like a mother, no resort-like a mother,
no security like a mother, no other ever-giving fountain of life.